A review by soulmate
A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 

I’m yours. My hands, my heart, my breath—yours. Every part of me. That’s everything, that’s all of it. I want you to have it; take it.”

*SCREAMMNNING*

.

..

...

*MORE SCREAMING*

Fealty is hot, Fealty is in, i want some Fealty. Fealty it's gonna be.

Did u ever want someone so devoted to u, that u are their sun & moon, the center of their sky, their north star?

Me neither 🤥

But good god does Rowland deliver.

Kadou is a prince in the kingdom of Araşt (inspired by the ottoman empire), his sister Zeliha - the sultan. And thanks god for that, bc Kadou can't imagine sitting on the throne himself. Suffering from anxiety and panic attacks (something that's not 'a thing' in their world) Kadou sees himself as nothing more than a coward, unfit to rule.

A unfortunate misunderstanding puts him and his most loyal man (Tadek my babygirl) into quite the pickle, compelling the Sultan to assign Evemer, a serious and dutiful man, to Kadous guard.

Evemer doesn't think much of Kadou, other than him being careless, flighty and negligent, and Kadou knows. Their 'something' doesn't start on the right foot, but investigating a strange break-in, getting confronted by nasty acquaintances, some near deaths and panic attacks brings the duo VERY close to each other.

AND SHIT IT GETS SO 😫😫

Their dynamic changes to one of absolute loyalty, respect and fealty. Most importantly MUTUAL ones at that! Kadou my ethical king believes that true fealty lies in the reciprocity of their actions and words (even if he himself doesn't feel worthy to receive it). And Evemer, initally not seeing Kadou as someone worth following, finds in him the person he always wanted to follow, till the end of his days.